Leisure battery output

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robhho123
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by robhho123 » Mon Sep 21, 2020 4:47 pm

Ah That's interesting not seen that before, it sounds like a split charger but with two wires instead of one maybe it's reversible for when the vehicle battery runs low it kicks in and connects the two together.
Have you got a picture of it?

Mabye something like this.
https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/victron- ... -120a.html
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g8dhe
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by g8dhe » Mon Sep 21, 2020 5:20 pm

No its standard relay and switched from the Ignition on the IG2 circuit rather than being a voltage Sensitive Relay, this enables you to have some level of control on the charging. When the Ignition is set to On then the batteries are paralleled and the batteries will equalize, when you turn to Start then the relay opens and only the starter battery powers the starter motor, once started then its back to the On position and the alternator charges both batteries as normal.
Leisure_battery_configuration.png
Geoff
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robhho123
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by robhho123 » Mon Sep 21, 2020 9:38 pm

Thats a clever system would be nice to have that on mine instead of the voltage sensitive split charger.
annemarigold
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by annemarigold » Tue Sep 22, 2020 7:42 am

Thank you all so much for replies. That diagram certainly seems to fit except for the outputs. So what I have is a leisure battery but the step of wiring output for fridge, lighting etc has been done. I can't see any obvious output inside the van. There's a bongo guy (sorry I forget his name) lives in Worthing and I am in Eastbourne and he's suggested I pay a visit so I'll do that after my jaunt up the the lake District starting today.
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by annemarigold » Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:51 am

Thank you for your replies everyone. I'm just back from a trip to the Lake District where it was cold, wet and windy. There wasn't an electric spot handy which was a pity. Neither of the batteries equates with the name or spec for a leisure battery. I'm not sure how much use it is. This comment worries me "It could be that whoever has fitted it was planning on doing the conversion to make things run of the leisure battery but never got round to it or there just linked together to extend the battery life, Which isn't the best thing if both batteries are dead as you won't be able to jump start the bongo and you can't bump start it." Do people add a second battery because they might make extended visits somewhere where one alone could be a disadvantage? Seems odd as you have to refuel when you travel so would often have access to a new battery too. What would be the problem if the second one were removed? Thanks, Anne
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g8dhe
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by g8dhe » Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:07 pm

I wouldn't suggest removing it at the moment, ideally you need to follow the wiring back and make sure they haven't added the feeds from the leisure battery from the relay side of the fuse from the leisure battery - this is a common "problem" its not actually wrong electrically, but it can cause a lot of confusion, because when the engine is running all seems fine as the power is being fed from the alternator/starter battery via the relay. However once the relay releases (especially if a Voltage Sensitive Relay is used) then the power disappears if the charging fuse has blown!

If they haven't actually wired anything internally to the leisure battery then Swap Looms are available for this purpose, it comprises an extra fuse box and wiring to extend the the circuits from the existing fuses by the drivers knee to where the extra fuse box is mounted and connected to the leisure battery see here https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/bespokeautoe ... ervices_uk
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annemarigold
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Re: Leisure battery output

Post by annemarigold » Wed Sep 30, 2020 11:20 am

Geoff I'm bowing to the floor to you as supreme being. Thank you for this advice. This will be one for a personal visit to a bongo specialist. Cheers, Anne
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